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A “robust system” is in place to check on asylum seeker housing in the wake of the ‘red door’ controversy.

Outsourcing giant G4S said rigorous checks by the Home Office were carried out regularly on properties in Middlesbrough and Stockton, which are maintained by sub-contractor Jomast.

It comes as work began to repaint doors in Middlesbrough and Stockton, after many asylum seekers complained they were targeted with physical and verbal abuse as their houses were instantly recognisable because of their red painted front doors.

Speaking to The Gazette, head of housing for G4S, Juliet Halstead, said: “Every property that is earmarked for asylum housing goes through a consultation with the local council, which identifies that it is in an appropriate place.

“The properties are inspected rigorously by the Home Office, and by the service provider Jomast.

“No issues have been raised from those frequent inspections. Our policy hasn’t changed since the issues with the red doors were brought to wider attention.

“We consider that to be a robust system to ensure the properties meet contracted standards.”

G4S and Jomast have previously issued statements to deny claims of discrimination.

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The Gazette understands that around 250 properties will have their doors repainted in Middlesbrough and Stockton.

Ms Halstead said she hoped work would be completed “as soon as possible”.

“A range of colours are being used, it will be a mixture of colours so that they cannot be easily identified from other houses,” she continued.

“The work is being carried out by Jomast at its expense - there is no cost to the taxpayer at all.”

Many asylum seekers living in the Gresham area of Middlesbrough told The Gazette that they had suffered abuse.

Middlesbrough MP Andy McDonald spoke out in an urgent Commons debate last week after the claims that residents had been targeted - one allegedly had dog poo smeared on the house, while another reportedly had a National Front symbol scratched into the door.

Red door in Middlesbrough

Alex Cunningham, Stockton North MP, described Jomast properties he had visited as “hovels” during the debate - and questioned the rigour of the Home Office’s inspections.

A Home Office spokesman said it had commissioned an audit - with Immigration Minister James Brokenshire telling MPs he wanted “to ensure that COMPASS contracts (Home Office contracts) have been appropriately implemented in Middlesbrough”.

The Gazette has attempted to contact Jomast for a comment.

Concerns about the red doors were raised in Parliament two years ago by former Redcar MP Ian Swales - who told The Gazette last week there was a “sharp intake of breath” when he told members of the Public Accounts Committee.

But Ms Halstead told the Gazette today that as no complaints to G4S or Jomast were made by any asylum seekers living in the properties, it was decided to leave the doors red.

At the end of 2015, it was revealed that the numbers of asylum seekers in Middlesbrough approached record levels.

The Government says that no local authority area should need to accommodate more than one asylum seeker per 200 of population - but the town exceeded that limit last year.

Ms Halstead continued: “G4S deals with two contracts to provide asylum seeker housing, which covers 120 local authorities - and there are only 34 that are accepting asylum seekers.

“We are working with the Home Office to see that the volume can be spread more widely.

“What is important to say is that Middlesbrough has been very supportive and progressive in welcoming asylum seekers.”

Ms Halstead will represent G4S at the North-east Strategic Migration Partnership meeting tomorrow - a regular quarterly meeting with representatives from local councils and police forces.